The Two-Way

5:47 pm

Thu November 15, 2012

Israeli Ambassador: 'We Hope It Doesn't Come To Ground Operations'

Family and friends of Aaron Smadja, one of the three Israelis killed by a rocket fired from Gaza, mourn during his funeral at a cemetery in the southern Israeli town of Kiryat Malachi on Thursday.

Tsafrir AbayovAP

In an interview with All Things Considered's Melissa Block, Israel's Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren said that Israel's calling of 30,000 reservists "signals a preparation for possible land action, which we may need to defend our citizens."

As we reported, the situation between Hamas and Israel has escalated, during a second day of heavy firing. Part of its operation "Pillar of Defense," Israel has ordered airstrikes on targets in the Gaza Strip and Hamas has responded by increasing its rocket fire into Israel. At least 13 are dead in Gaza and three are dead in Israel.

Oren told Melissa that the military attacks were provoked by more than 1,000 rocket attacks in the past month.

"Israel will take whatever measures are necessary to defend its citizens," Oren said. "We hope it doesn't come to ground operations but we have to be prepared for that possibility."